Norwegians do it their way

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, June 30, 1999

SAN JOSE - The United States team, not unexpectedly, has received most of the attention during the 1999 Women's World Cup.

Others have taken their turns in the spotlight, too - intriguing China, exciting Brazil, the only-sometimes Super Falcons of Nigeria, even the Matildas of Australia, who waltzed out of the tournament without winning a match.

Norway has been waiting in the wings, relatively unnoticed. Which is a bit odd, considering it's the defending champion and long has been one of the globe's best women's soccer teams.

But the Norwegians are cool and collected about that lack of attention.

"We don't mind that everyone is talking about the U.S. and Brazil and China and not about us," she said. "In a way, those other teams get all the pressure and we become sort of the outsiders. We like where we are."

Where the Norwegians are is heading into a quarterfinal match with longtime rival Sweden - an opponent they have long dominated - Wednesday night at Spartan Stadium in the second game of a Women's World Cup double-header after China meets Russia.

By any measure, the Norwegians have looked formidable so far, despite some injuries.

In beating Russia, 2-1, Canada, 7-1, and Japan, 4-0, to win Group C easily, they matched the United States in goals scored, with 13, and gave up just one more. The 11 goals they tallied in their final two matches were the most by any team, indicating they may be peaking at just the right time.

As usual, they appear to be more physical and have more experience than the Swedes, whom they have beaten seven straight times. And they definitely have more attitude, as evidenced by their captain, defender Linda Medalen.

Medalen, a 31-year-old private investigator (and former police officer), talks as good a game as she plays, spilling quotes along with the bodies of opponents, and exemplifying the Norwegians' aggressive style and spirit.

After she scored her 21st point in World Cup history, at Washington's Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, the uninhibited Medalen celebrated by pulling her shirt up over her head, which showed the world her sports bra.

"No women do that," Medalen said. "Of course, I'm crazy enough, so I had to do it."

Medalen broke her nose against Japan, and for a while was listed as doubtful for the Sweden match.

"It is very painful, and I look like the elephant woman," she said. "As a woman, you kind of think about your looks, and I am not exactly happy about that. But I'll do anything to play, even if it means wearing a mask."

The masked Medalen - who has played on all three of her country's World Cup teams - could be an even bigger fright to the opposition than the unconcealed version.

She has long been the Norwegian team leader, along with another veteran, 29-year-old Hege Riise, prolific forward Ann Kristin Aarones, who stands 6-foot-1, and Pettersen, who scored twice last year as Norway dealt the United States its only loss of the year (and most lopsided defeat ever), 4-1.

Norway finished second at the first Women's World Cup in 19991, won it in '95 and was the bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympics.

Those results, plus a rich history in the sport and strong showing so far this summer, have earned the Norwegians plenty of respect.

And as the Women's World Cup moves into its closing stages, maybe America's soccer fans and press will give them more than passing mention.